Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-04-28

Do HuIlUIc, OH! ptOplc, plpeu out
thin voice which seemed to come from the
monkey in the shade, sit is the king
ut is the king" doomed out eight thou
sand Threats in answer. BE humble, oh,
people, it is the king
Then there was silence again-dead
silence. Presently, however, it was broken.
A soldier On our left dropped his shield
which fell with a-clatter on the limestone
floor
TwaIa turned his one cold eye in the
direction of the noise.
''Come hither, thou" he said, in voice
of thunder
A fine young man stepped out of the ranks,
and stood before him.
"It was thy shield that fell, thou awkward
dog. Wilt thou make me reproach in the
eyes of strangers from the stars? What hast
thou to say?''
And then we saw the poor fellow turn
pale under his dusky skin.
ut was by chance, oh, calf of the black
cow he murmured.
"Ihen it is chance for which thou must
pay. Thou hast made me foolish; prepare
for DEATH"
81 am the kings OK was the low answer.
''Scragga," roared the king, ''let me see
how thou canst use thy spear. Kill me this
awkward dog"
Scragga stepped forward with an ill-fav-
ored grin, and lifted his spear. The poor
victim covered his eyes with his hand and
stood still. AS for us we were petrified
with horror.
"Once, twice. he waved the spear and
then struck, alb, God! right home-EA- 49,.
He flung up his hands and dropped dead
From the multitude arose something like a
mrrmur; it rolled TO and round, and died
away. The TRACED was finished; there lay
the corpse, and w had not yet realized that
it had been enacted. Sir Henry sprung up
and swore great oath, then, overpowered
by sense of silence, sat down again
'Fhe thrust was a good one," said the
king; 'take him away"
Four men stepped out OF the ranks, and
lifting the body of the murdered man, car
ried it away.
"Cover up the bloodstains, cover them
up," piped out the thin voice from the mon
key-like fig, 'the kings word is spoken,
the kings doom is DONE"
Thereupon girl came forward from be-
hind the hut, bearing jar filled with pow
dered lime, which was scattered over the red
mark, plotting it from sight
Sir Henry meanwhile was boiling with
rage at what had happened; indeed, it was
with difficulty that we could keep him still.
''Sit down, for Heavens sakep' [ whis-
peped; our lives depend upon it,"
He yielded and remained quiet.
Twala sat still Entil the traces of the
tragedy had been removed, then addressed us.
"White people, he said, ''who come
hither whence know not, and why know
not, greeting"
Greeting Twala, King of the Kukuanas,"
L answered
white people, whence come We, and what
seek yep
1--WE come from the stars, ask us not
how. We come to see this land.''
''Ye come from far to see little thing.
And that man with ye," pointing to limbo
pa, docs he too come from the stars?"
Even SO; there are people of thy color in
the heavens above; but ask not of matters
too high for thee, Twala, the king"
rye speak with a loud voice, people of the
stars" Twala answered, in a tone which |
scarcely liked. Remember that the stars
are far off, and we are here. How if make
We as him whom they bear away"
l laughed out loud, though there was little
laughter in my heart
''Oh, king" / said 'be careful, walk wa
riIy over hot stones, lest thou shOuldst burn
thy feet; hold the spear by the handle, lest
thou Sh0uldSt cut thy hands. Touch but one
hair Of our heads and destruction shall come
upon thee. What, have not these" pointing
to Infadoos and Scragga (who, young villain
that he was, was employed in cleaning the
blood of the soldier off mis- spear), ''told thee
what manner of men we are? Hast thou
ever seen the like of us?' and [ pointed to
Good, feeling quite sure that he had never
seen anybody before who looked in the least
like him as he then appeared
sit is true, l have not" said the king.
''Have they not told thee how we strike
with death from afar?'
'4T'hey have told me, but l believe them
not Let me see you kill. Kill me man
among those who stand wonderland he
pointed to the opposite side OF the kraal =
and will believe
May" | answered; 1--WE shed no blood of
man except in just punishment; but if you
will see, bid thy servants drive in an OK
through the kraal gates, and before he has
n twenty PAGES | viii strike him dead"
To be continued.